and Human Services (HHS)
EXPIRED
Department of Health and Human Services
Participating Organizations
National Institutes of Health (NIH), (http://www.nih.gov)
Food
Allergy Initiative (FAI) (http://www.faiusa.org/)
Food
Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) (http://www.foodallergy.org)
Components of Participating Organizations
National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (http://www.niaid.nih.gov)
Title: Exploratory Investigations in Food Allergy (R21)
Announcement Type
This Funding Opportunity
Announcement (FOA) is a reissue of RFA-AI-07-032.
Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:
Request for Applications (RFA) Number: RFA-AI-09-011
NOTICE: Applications submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Federal assistance must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) using the SF424 Research and Related (R&R) forms and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
APPLICATIONS MAY NOT BE SUBMITTED IN PAPER FORMAT.
This FOA must be read in conjunction with the application guidelines included with this announcement in Grants.gov/Apply for Grants (hereafter called Grants.gov/Apply).
A registration process is necessary before submission and applicants are highly encouraged to start the process at least four (4) weeks prior to the grant submission date. See Section IV.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number
93.855
Key Dates
Release/Posted
Date: March 13, 2009
Opening Date: April 17, 2009 (Earliest date an application may be submitted to Grants.gov)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): May 19, 2009
Application Receipt Date(s): June 19, 2009 New Date July 14, 2009 (per issuance of NOT-AI-09-046)
Peer
Review Date(s): October, 2009
Council
Review Date(s): January, 2010
Earliest
Anticipated Start Date: March, 2010
Additional
Information To Be Available Date (Url Activation Date): Not Applicable.
Expiration
Date: New Date July 15, 2009 (per issuance of NOT-AI-09-046) Original Date: June 20, 2009
Due Dates for E.O. 12372
Not applicable
Additional
Overview Content
Executive Summary
Table of Contents
Part
I Overview Information
Part II Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives
Section II. Award Information
1. Mechanism of Support
2.
Funds Available
Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
A.
Eligible Institutions
B.
Eligible Individuals
2.
Cost Sharing or Matching
3.
Other-Special Eligibility Criteria
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Request Application Information
2.
Content and Form of Application Submission
3.
Submission Dates and Times
A. Receipt, Review, and Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of Intent
B. Submitting an Application Electronically to the NIH
C. Application Processing
4.
Intergovernmental Review
5.
Funding Restrictions
6.
Other Submission Requirements and Information
Section V. Application Review Information
1.
Criteria
2.
Review and Selection Process
A. Additional Review Criteria
B. Additional Review Considerations
C. Resource Sharing Plan(s)
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Section VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
2.
Administrative and National Policy Requirements
3. Reporting
Section VII. Agency Contacts
1. Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2.
Peer Review Contact(s)
3.
Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)
Section VIII. Other Information - Required Federal
Citations
Part
II - Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives
This is a renewal of FOA RFA-AI-07-032, Exploratory Investigations in Food Allergy (R21) , (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-07-032.html). The purpose of this FOA is to support high impact, innovative exploratory/developmental investigations to determine the mechanisms of IgE-mediated food allergy and related co-morbid conditions, focusing on ex vivo studies with human specimens and on studies with current or new animal models of food allergy. Areas for research focus may include, but are not limited to: pathogenesis, biomarkers and genetic components of food allergy and severe food allergy; food allergens and their epitopes including molecular characteristics, pathogenesis, biomarkers, genetics, mechanistic studies, and mechanisms of desensitization and tolerance to food allergens. Investigators who have no history of receiving independent NIH funding in food allergy research after January 2005 are encouraged to apply to this FOA.
This initiative is supported by the NIAID, the Food Allergy Initiative and the Food Allergy, and Anaphylaxis Network. All applications must be submitted using the electronic SF424 (R&R) format for the R21 grant mechanism and in accordance with the SF424 (R&R). Application Guide. Applications will be assigned by the NIH Center for Scientific Review to a NIAID Special Emphasis Panel for peer review following NIH guidelines.
Background
Food allergy is emerging as a major public health problem that affects 3-4% of adults and 6-8% of children in the United States, and appears to be increasing in prevalence. For example, the prevalence of peanut allergy increased from 0.4% in 1997 to 0.8% in 2002. Food allergy is also associated with severe reactions, and is the most common cause of emergency room visits for anaphylaxis. Even though food allergic subjects attempt to avoid known allergens, reactions from accidental exposure are relatively common and in a two-year period, approximately 50% of food allergic subjects will have an accidental exposure that leads to an allergic reaction. Allergies to peanuts and tree nuts, the most common causes of life-threatening allergic reactions, persist throughout life in the majority of subjects. Despite the risk of allergic reactions and even severe reactions, there is no current treatment other than allergen avoidance and symptomatic treatment of severe reactions.
In March 2006, at the request of Congress, the NIAID convened an ad hoc panel of nationally recognized experts in allergy and immunology to review current basic and clinical research efforts related to food allergies. The panel made recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for enhancing and coordinating food allergy research activities. The recommendations of the 2006 NIH Expert Panel on Food Allergy Research can be found at: http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodAllergy/research/ReportFoodAllergy.htm. Research objectives in this FOA are responsive to several of these 2006 Expert Panel recommendations and are briefly described below:
1) Pathogenesis of food allergy: Current research suggests that food allergy is mediated by antigen-presenting cells that process food allergen peptides into complexes associated with MHC class II molecules. The complexes are then presented to allergen-specific receptors on T cells, which promote the production of IgE antibodies by allergen-specific B cells. There is very little information available concerning methods to predict which food proteins are likely to be allergenic. While the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate these immune responses may be similar to responses to other allergens, these mechanisms have not been fully explored in the context of food allergy. Regulation of IgE responses to food may have unique control mechanisms. The normal response to foods is oral tolerance, and the tolerant state is maintained by a complex relationship between gut microbial flora and the immune cells of the gut, including inhibitory signals provided by the innate immune system. It is possible that sensitization occurs in the gastrointestinal tract in food-allergic patients. However, the mechanisms by which oral tolerance is bypassed are unknown. Intriguing findings from human studies suggest additional sites of sensitization exist, such as in the skin. These findings have demonstrated that cutaneous exposure to topical preparations containing peanut oil increase the likelihood of developing peanut allergy, and that the mutations of genes associated with skin barrier function may be associated with increased risk of allergy, including food allergy.
2) Pathogenesis of severe food allergy and food-induced anaphylaxis: Severe food allergy may be mediated by the same pathways as milder forms of food allergy. Anaphylaxis as a result of food allergy is most likely dependent on several factors: the concentration of IgE antibody bound to receptors on mast cells, the concentrations of allergens bound to IgE antibodies that are bound to receptors on mast cells, the levels of mediators released by mast cells in response to IgE cross-linking, and the sensitivity of end organs to the released mediators. Thus, quantitative assays of IgE antibodies to food allergens are predictors of the likelihood of an allergic reaction upon exposure to that food. However, IgE antibody levels do not predict reaction severity. Abnormalities of any component of these events may increase the risk of anaphylaxis. Recent data suggest that individuals with a deficiency of the enzyme platelet activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase have a higher risk of anaphylaxis to peanuts. This suggests that PAF-mediated pathways, which represent events that follow IgE-mediated mast cell activation, may also be critical in human anaphylaxis. It remains unclear whether PAF is a cause of anaphylaxis or a consequence of anaphylaxis. Further studies will be needed to determine the reproducibility of these findings and to discover whether pathway defects leading to high concentrations of PAF and other mediators also increase the risk of anaphylaxis.
3) Epidemiology of food allergy and severe food allergy: Food allergy is strongly associated with both atopic dermatitis and asthma. The mechanisms underlying these associations are not fully understood, although altered skin barrier function has been postulated to increase the likelihood of cutaneous sensitization, a possible route of sensitization to food allergens. Among inner city children with asthma, those who have IgE antibodies to foods have more severe asthma than those who lack these antibodies, an observation suggesting that there are associations, currently unexplained, between the pathogenesis of food allergy and asthma. In addition to atopic dermatitis and asthma, eosinophilic gastroenteritis is another co-morbid condition linked to food allergy. In this disease, a high proportion of patients have IgE antibodies to foods, but the precise relationship of food allergy to this disease is uncertain. Few studies have addressed predictive factors for severe reactions to foods, but some data suggest that further investigation may be able to increase the number of useful biomarkers. Thus, individuals who require only a low dose of food allergen to trigger an allergic response (that is, have a low threshold) have a higher risk of severe reactions. IgE antibody levels do not predict reaction severity, but the breadth of epitope recognition by IgE antibodies may predict severity. In addition, as discussed above, levels of PAF acetylhydrolase may be a marker of severe reactions. Biomarkers that distinguish subpopulations of food-allergic individuals, including those with or without co-morbid diseases, and biomarkers that predict severity of reactions, would greatly facilitate advances in food allergy research.
4) Genetics: Advances in genetics and genomics, including the completion of the Human Genome Project (http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/home.html) and the HapMap project (http://www.hapmap.org/ )are creating opportunities to define the genetics of human food allergy. Several recent studies have identified possible links between genetic variability and allergic disorders. Examples include a deficiency of filaggrin, a skin and mucosal barrier protein associated with both atopic dermatitis and asthma, and a deficiency in a serine protease inhibitor, SPINK5, which in some patient populations is associated with atopic dermatitis and food allergy.
5) Food Allergens and Epitopes: The majority of well-characterized inhalant and food allergens are water-soluble proteins. Recent studies indicate that lipids and lipid-carbohydrate complexes (e.g., glycolipids extracted from cypress pollens) can trigger immune and allergic responses. Other studies suggest that lipids and glycolipids activate the immune system via interacting with CD1d molecules on antigen-presenting cells and stimulating production of NKT cells. Neither lipid food allergens, nor activated NKT cells in food allergy, have as yet been identified. Recent studies using advanced technologies, including X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance, have provided insights into the structure of proteins and should provide new information on the structure of food allergen epitopes. IgE antibodies are produced to both linear and conformational epitopes of food allergens, and production of antibodies to linear epitopes has been associated in some syndromes with persistence of disease. Analysis of epitope structure and epitope selection by the immune system may eventually allow useful predictions about the natural history of food allergy.
6) Animal Models and Pre-Clinical Studies in Animal Models: Rodent models of food allergy do not mimic all the features of human food allergy, but some newer rodent models display important characteristics of the human disease. These models are useful for studying the role of interactions between genes and the environment (including microbial flora) in food allergy pathogenesis and the mechanisms that mediate induction of oral tolerance versus IgE-mediated immune responses. These newer models are also useful for preclinical evaluation of new approaches to prevent and treat food allergy. Such preclinical evaluations have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of some agents, such as allergens genetically modified to reduce IgE binding epitopes, allergens coupled to ligands recognized by Toll-like receptor (TLR) proteins and other components of the innate immune system, probiotics, and agents administered by sublingual and other routes of administration that reduce the risk of severe allergic reactions.
7) Desensitization and tolerance. Protocols developed only in the last few years in clinical trials to treat food allergy have attempted to alter the food allergic state, typically by immunotherapy with food. These trials have attempted to define two clinical states that result from food immunotherapy, which are called desensitization and tolerance. It is believed that desensitization is rapidly reversible, and is mediated by altered signaling pathways in key effector cells including mast cells and basophils. Tolerance is clinically defined as the ability to tolerate food after a significant period of time has elapsed since last ingesting that food. Tolerance to food is believed to reflect an immunologic response involving T regulatory cells, or other T cell subsets, as well as allergen-specific anergy and clonal deletion. Successful treatment of food allergy, as is the case in spontaneous remission of food allergy, should allow subjects to tolerate the food(s) to which they were previously allergic. Administration of food allergens appears in some cases to result in increased capacity to tolerate the food. Furthermore, a successful outcome may arise as a consequence of either desensitization, or tolerance. It is not yet clear whether tolerance can be achieved by food allergen immunotherapy. Further evaluation of desensitization and tolerance requires new approaches, using human samples, and/or new or current animal models, which can define these events.
8) Support of Investigators in Food Allergy: The NIH Expert Panel on Food Allergy Research recognized the need to recruit more investigators to the field of food allergy research. As stated above, a goal of this FOA is to attract applications from Investigators who have no history of receiving independent NIH funding in food allergy research after January 2005.
Research Objectives and Scope
The overall objective of this FOA is to support innovative exploratory/developmental studies of the underlying mechanisms and risk factors associated with IgE-mediated food allergy. Preliminary data are not required, but expertise in, and a plan for applying immunologic, genetic, biochemical and molecular biological principles to food allergy research should be evident. Research areas supported by this FOA include, but are not limited to, the following:
Research areas NOT supported by this FOA include:
Non-responsive applications will not be reviewed.
Clinical trials will also NOT be supported by this FOA. However, studies using human samples may be included if they are within the research objectives and scope of the FOA, and if they do not involve clinical intervention and/or are performed with samples obtained from ongoing clinical trials supported outside of this FOA. Plans to address all regulatory agency requirements and the protection of human subjects must be described in the application. For any questions concerning clinical studies under this FOA, applicants are encouraged to contact the Program Officer (Section VII.1).
Applications submitted in response to this FOA should be exploratory, novel and emphasize the high reward and high risk nature of the proposed work. These studies should break new ground or extend previous discoveries toward new directions or applications. Applications must describe projects distinct from those supported through the Research Project Grant (R01) mechanism, such as long-term projects and projects designed to increase knowledge in a well-established area. Information on the R01 program can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r01.htm. Projects of limited cost or scope that use widely accepted approaches and methods within well established fields will NOT be considered for support and are better suited for the R03 small grant mechanism. Information on the R03 program can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r03.htm.
Investigators who have no history of receiving independent NIH funding in food allergy research after January 2005 are encouraged to apply to this FOA. Support for training, fellowship, and mentored career development awards is not considered independent research support. This FOA encourages not only junior investigators in the early phase of their independent research career, but also established investigators from related fields who wish to apply their skills to the field of food allergy research.
See Section
VIII, Other Information - Required Federal Citations, for
policies related to this announcement.
Section
II. Award Information
This FOA will use the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21) award mechanism. The Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the proposed project.
This FOA uses Just-in-Time information concepts. It also uses the modular as well as the non-modular budget formats (see the Modular Applications and Awards section of the NIH Grants Policy Statement . Specifically, if you are submitting an application with direct costs in each year of $250,000 or less (excluding consortium Facilities and Administrative [F&A] costs), use the PHS 398 Modular Budget component provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Package and SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (see specifically Section 5.4, Modular Budget component, of the Application Guide.
All foreign applicants must complete and submit budget requests using the Research & Related Budget component found in the application package for this FOA. See NOT-OD-06-096, August 23, 2006.
The R21 is not renewable and competing renewal (formerly competing continuation ) applications will not be accepted.
2. Funds Available
Because the nature and scope of the proposed
research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the
size and duration of each award will also vary. Although the financial plans of
the IC(s) provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding
opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds.
The total project period for an application submitted in response to this funding opportunity may not exceed 2 years. Although the size of award may vary with the scope of research proposed, it is expected that applications will stay within the budgetary guidelines for an exploratory/developmental project. Direct costs are limited to $275,000 over a two-year period, with no more than $200,000 in direct costs allowed in any single year. Applicants may request direct costs in $25,000 modules, up to the total direct costs limitation of $275,000 for the combined two-year award period.
It is anticipated that $3 million per year will be available from NIAID, the Food Allergy Initiative and the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, for this FOA and that 10-12 new awards will be made.
Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs requested by consortium participants are not included in the direct cost limitation. See NOT-OD-05-004.
NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.
Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible
Applicants
1.A. Eligible Institutions
The
following organizations/institutions are eligible to apply:
1.B. Eligible Individuals
Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the PD/PI is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.
More than one PD/PI (i.e., multiple PDs/PIs), may be designated on the application for projects that require a team science approach and therefore clearly do not fit the single-PD/PI model. Additional information on the implementation plans and policies and procedures to formally allow more than one PD/PI on individual research projects is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/multi_pi. All PDs/PIs must be registered in the NIH electronic Research Administration (eRA) Commons prior to the submission of the application (see http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/preparing.htm for instructions).
The decision of whether to apply for a grant with a single PD/PI or multiple PDs/PIs grant is the responsibility of the investigators and applicant organizations and should be determined by the scientific goals of the project. Applications for grants with multiple PDs/PIs will require additional information, as outlined in the instructions below. The NIH review criteria for approach, investigators, and environment have been modified to accommodate applications involving either a single PD/PI or multiple PDs/PIs. When considering the multiple PD/PI option, please be aware that the structure and governance of the PD/PI leadership team as well as the knowledge, skills and experience of the individual PDs/PIs will be factored into the assessment of the overall scientific merit of the application. Multiple PDs/PIs on a project share the authority and responsibility for leading and directing the project, intellectually and logistically. Each PD/PI is responsible and accountable to the grantee organization, or, as appropriate, to a collaborating organization, for the proper conduct of the project or program, including the submission of required reports. For further information on multiple PDs/PIs, please see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/multi_pi.
2. Cost
Sharing or Matching
This program does not require cost
sharing as defined in the current NIH
Grants Policy Statement.
3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria
Number of Applications. Applicants may submit more than one application, provided each application is scientifically distinct. An institution may submit more than one application as the applicant institution.
Resubmissions. Resubmission of applications that were reviewed in response to the previous funding announcement, AI-07-032, Exploratory Investigations in Food Allergy (R21) , but not funded, will be accepted; however, such applications must include an Introduction addressing issues raised in the previous peer review critiques (Summary Statement). Beginning with applications intended for the January 25, 2009 official submission due date, all original new applications (i.e., never submitted) and competing renewal applications will be permitted only a single amendment (A1). See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-003.html and NOT-OD-09-016 Original new and competing renewal applications that were submitted prior to January 25, 2009 will be permitted two amendments (A1 and A2). For these grandfathered applications, NIH expects that any A2 will be submitted no later than January 7, 2011, and NIH will not accept A2 applications after that date.
Renewals. Renewal applications are not permitted in response to this FOA.
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
To download a SF424
(R&R) Application Package and SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for
completing the SF424 (R&R) forms for this FOA, use the Apply for Grant Electronically
button in this FOA or link to http://www.grants.gov/Apply/ and follow the directions provided on that Web site.
A one-time registration is required for institutions/organizations at both:
PDs/PIs should work with their institutions/organizations to make sure they are registered in the NIH eRA Commons.
Several additional separate actions are required before an applicant can submit an electronic application, as follows:
1) Organizational/Institutional Registration in Grants.gov/Get Registered
2) Organizational/Institutional Registration in the eRA Commons
3) Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Registration in the NIH eRA Commons: Refer to the NIH eRA Commons System (COM) Users Guide.
Both the PDs/PI(s) and AOR/SO need separate accounts in the NIH eRA Commons since both are authorized to view the application image.
Several of the steps of the registration process could take four weeks or more. Therefore, applicants should immediately check with their business official to determine whether their organization/institution is already registered in both Grants.gov and the Commons. The NIH will accept electronic applications only from organizations that have completed all necessary registrations.
1. Request Application Information
Applicants
must download the SF424 (R&R) application forms and the SF424 (R&R)
Application Guide for this FOA through Grants.gov/Apply.
Note: Only the forms
package directly attached to a specific FOA can be used. You will not be able
to use any other SF424 (R&R) forms (e.g., sample forms, forms from another
FOA), although some of the "Attachment" files may be useable for more
than one FOA.
For
further assistance, contact GrantsInfo -- Telephone 301-710-0267; Email: [email protected].
Telecommunications
for the hearing impaired: TTY 301-451-5936.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
Prepare all applications using the SF424 (R&R) application forms and in accordance with the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for this FOA through Grants.gov/Apply.
The SF424 (R&R) Application Guide is critical to submitting a complete and accurate application to NIH. Some fields within the SF424 (R&R) application components, although not marked as mandatory, are required by NIH (e.g., the Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component must contain the PD/PI’s assigned eRA Commons User ID). Agency-specific instructions for such fields are clearly identified in the Application Guide. For additional information, see Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.
The SF424 (R&R) application has several components. Some components are required, others are optional. The forms package associated with this FOA in Grants.gov/APPLY includes all applicable components, required and optional. A completed application in response to this FOA includes the data in the following components:
Required Components:
SF424
(R&R) (Cover component)
Research
& Related Project/Performance Site Locations
Research
& Related Other Project Information
Research
& Related Senior/Key Person
PHS398
Cover Page Supplement
PHS398
Research Plan
PHS398
Checklist
PHS398
Modular Budget or Research & Related Budget, as appropriate (See Section IV.6., Special
Instructions, regarding appropriate required budget
component.)
Optional
Components:
PHS398
Cover Letter File
Research
& Related Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form
Foreign
Organizations (Non-Domestic
[non-U.S.] Entities)
NIH policies concerning grants to Foreign (non-U.S.) organizations can be found in the NIH Grants Policy Statement at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2003/NIHGPS_Part12.htm#_Toc54600260.
Applications from Foreign organizations must:
Proposed research should provide special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions in other countries that are not readily available in the United States (U.S.) or that augment existing U.S. resources.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Applications with Multiple PDs/PIs
When multiple PDs/PIs are proposed, NIH requires one PD/PI to be designated as the "Contact PI, who will be responsible for all communication between the PDs/PIs and the NIH, for assembling the application materials outlined below, and for coordinating progress reports for the project. The contact PD/PI must meet all eligibility requirements for PD/PI status in the same way as other PDs/PIs, but has no other special roles or responsibilities within the project team beyond those mentioned above.
Information for the Contact PD/PI should be entered in item 15 of the SF424 (R&R) Cover component. All other PDs/PIs should be listed in the Research & Related Senior/Key Person component and assigned the project role of PD/PI. Please remember that all PDs/PIs must be registered in the eRA Commons prior to application submission. The Commons ID of each PD/PI must be included in the Credential field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person component. Failure to include this data field will cause the application to be rejected.
All projects proposing Multiple PDs/PIs will be required to include a new section describing the leadership plan approach for the proposed project.
Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan: For applications designating multiple PDs/PIs, a new section of the research plan, entitled Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan [Section 14 of the Research Plan Component in the SF424 (R&R)], must be included. A rationale for choosing a multiple PD/PI approach should be described. The governance and organizational structure of the leadership team and the research project should be described, and should include communication plans, process for making decisions on scientific direction, and procedures for resolving conflicts. The roles and administrative, technical, and scientific responsibilities for the project or program should be delineated for the PDs/PIs and other collaborators.
If budget allocation is planned, the distribution of resources to specific components of the project or the individual PDs/PIs should be delineated in the Leadership Plan. In the event of an award, the requested allocations may be reflected in a footnote on the Notice of Award (NoA).
Applications Involving a Single Institution
When all PDs/PIs are within a single institution, follow the instructions contained in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.
Applications Involving Multiple Institutions
When multiple institutions are involved, one institution must be designated as the prime institution and funding for the other institution(s) must be requested via a subcontract to be administered by the prime institution. When submitting a detailed budget, the prime institution should submit its budget using the Research & Related Budget component. All other institutions should have their individual budgets attached separately to the Research & Related Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form. See Section 4.8 of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for further instruction regarding the use of the subaward budget form.
When submitting a modular budget, the prime institution completes the PHS398 Modular Budget component only. Information concerning the consortium/subcontract budget is provided in the budget justification. Separate budgets for each consortium/subcontract grantee are not required when using the Modular budget format. See Section 5.4 of the Application Guide for further instruction regarding the use of the PHS398 Modular Budget component.
3.
Submission Dates and Times
See Section IV.3.A. for details.
3.A. Submission, Review, and Anticipated Start Dates
Opening
Date: April 17, 2009 (Earliest date an application may be submitted to
Grants.gov)
Letters
of Intent Receipt Date(s): May 19, 2009
Application Receipt Date(s): June 19, 2009
Peer
Review Date(s): October 2009
Council
Review Date(s): January 2010
Earliest
Anticipated Start Date: March 2010
3.A.1. Letter of Intent
Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:
Although a letter of intent is not
required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent
application, the information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the
potential review workload and plan the review.
The
letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed in Section
IV.3.A.
The
letter of intent should be sent to:
Sujata
Vijh, Ph.D.
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Room 3118, MSC-7616
6700B Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-7616
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service; non-USPS
service)
Telephone: (301) 594-0985
Fax: 301-480-2408
Email: [email protected]
3.B. Submitting an Application Electronically to the
NIH
To submit an
application in response to this FOA, applicants should access this FOA via http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp
and follow Steps 1-4. Note: Applications must only be submitted electronically.
PAPER APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
In order to expedite the review, applicants are requested to notify the NIAID Referral Office by emailing [email protected] when the application has been submitted. Please include the FOA number and title, PD/PI name, and title of the application.
3.C. Application Processing
Applications may be submitted on or after the
opening date and must be successfully received by Grants.gov no later
than 5:00 p.m. local time (of the
applicant institution/organization) on the application
due date(s). (See Section IV.3.A. for all dates.) If an application is
not submitted by the due date(s) and time, the application may be delayed in
the review process or not reviewed.
Once an application package has been successfully submitted through Grants.gov, any errors have been addressed, and the assembled application has been created in the eRA Commons, the PD/PI and the Authorized Organization Representative/Signing Official (AOR/SO) have two weekdays (Monday Friday, excluding Federal holidays) to view the application image to determine if any further action is necessary.
Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the CSR and responsiveness by the IC. Incomplete and non-responsive applications will not be reviewed.
There will be an acknowledgement of receipt of applications from Grants.gov and the Commons. The submitting AOR/SO receives the Grants.gov acknowledgments. The AOR/SO and the PI receive Commons acknowledgments. Information related to the assignment of an application to a Scientific Review Group is also in the Commons.
Note: Since email can be unreliable, it is the responsibility of the applicant to check periodically on the application status in the Commons.
The NIH will not accept any application in response to this funding opportunity that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. However, when a previously unfunded application, originally submitted as an investigator-initiated application, is to be submitted in response to a funding opportunity, it is to be prepared as a NEW application. That is, the application for the funding opportunity must not include an Introduction describing the changes and improvements made, and the text must not be marked to indicate the changes from the previous unfunded version of the application.
Resubmission of applications that were reviewed in response to the previous funding announcement, AI-07-032, Exploratory Investigations in Food Allergy (R21) , but not funded, will be accepted; however, such applications must include an Introduction addressing issues raised in the previous peer review critiques (Summary Statement).
4.
Intergovernmental Review
This
initiative is not subject to intergovernmental
review.
5. Funding Restrictions
All
NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other
considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Pre-award
costs are allowable. A grantee may, at its own risk and without NIH prior
approval, incur obligations and expenditures to cover costs up to 90 days
before the beginning date of the initial budget period of a new or renewal
award if such costs: 1) are necessary to conduct the project, and 2) would be
allowable under the grant, if awarded, without NIH prior approval. If specific
expenditures would otherwise require prior approval, the grantee must obtain
NIH approval before incurring the cost. NIH prior approval is required for any
costs to be incurred more than 90 days before the beginning date of the initial
budget period of a new or renewal award.
The
incurrence of pre-award costs in anticipation of a competing or non-competing
award imposes no obligation on NIH either to make the award or to increase the
amount of the approved budget if an award is made for less than the amount
anticipated and is inadequate to cover the pre-award costs incurred. NIH
expects the grantee to be fully aware that pre-award costs result in borrowing
against future support and that such borrowing must not impair the grantee's
ability to accomplish the project objectives in the approved time frame or in
any way adversely affect the conduct of the project (see the NIH
Grants Policy Statement).
6. Other Submission Requirements and Information
PD/PI Credential (e.g., Agency Login)
The NIH requires the PD(s)/PI(s) to fill in his/her Commons User ID in the PROFILE Project Director/Principal Investigator section, Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component.
Organizational DUNS
The applicant organization must include its DUNS number in its Organization Profile in the eRA Commons. This DUNS number must match the DUNS number provided at CCR registration with Grants.gov. For additional information, see Frequently Asked Questions Application Guide, Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.
PHS398 Research Plan Component Sections
Page limitations of the PHS398 Research Plan component must be followed as outlined in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. While each section of the Research Plan component needs to be uploaded separately as a PDF attachment, applicants are encouraged to construct the Research Plan component as a single document, separating sections into distinct PDF attachments just before uploading the files. This approach will enable applicants to better monitor formatting requirements such as page limits. All attachments must be provided to NIH in PDF format, filenames must be included with no spaces or special characters, and a .pdf extension must be used.
All application instructions outlined in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide are to be followed, incorporating "Just-in-Time" information concepts, and with the following additional requirements:
All application instructions outlined in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide are to be followed, incorporating "Just-in-Time" information concepts, and with the following requirements for R21 applications:
Appendix Materials
Applicants must follow the specific instructions on Appendix materials as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (See http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/index.htm).
Do not use the Appendix to circumvent the page limitations of the Research Plan component. An application that does not comply with the required page limitations may be delayed in the review process.
Resource Sharing Plan(s)
NIH considers the sharing of unique research resources developed through NIH-sponsored research an important means to enhance the value and further the advancement of the research. When resources have been developed with NIH funds and the associated research findings published or provided to NIH, it is important that they be made readily available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community. If the final data/resources are not amenable to sharing, this must be explained in the Resource Sharing section of the application (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/data_sharing/data_sharing_faqs.htm).
(a) Data Sharing Plan: Not Applicable.
(b) Sharing Model Organisms: Regardless of the amount requested, all applications where the development of model organisms is anticipated are expected to include a description of a specific plan for sharing and distributing unique model organisms and related resources, or state appropriate reasons why such sharing is restricted or not possible. See Sharing Model Organisms Policy, and NIH Guide NOT-OD-04-042.
(c) Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS): Regardless of the amount requested, applicants seeking funding for a genome-wide association study are expected to provide a plan for submission of GWAS data to the NIH-designated GWAS data repository, or provide an appropriate explanation why submission to the repository is not possible. A genome-wide association study is defined as any study of genetic variation across the entire genome that is designed to identify genetic associations with observable traits (e.g., blood pressure or weight) or the presence or absence of a disease or condition. For further information see Policy for Sharing of Data Obtained in NIH Supported or Conducted Genome-Wide Association Studies (go to NOT-OD-07-088, and http://grants.nih.gov/grants/gwas/.)
Foreign Applications (Non-Domestic [non-U.S.] Entities)
Indicate how the proposed project has specific relevance to the mission and objectives of the NIH/IC and has the potential for significantly advancing the health sciences in the United States.
Section V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process.
2. Review and Selection Process
Applications that are complete and responsive to this FOA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and in accordance with NIH peer review procedures (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/peer/), using the review criteria stated below.
As part of the scientific peer review, all applications will:
Applications submitted in response to this FOA will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications submitted in response to this FOA. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:
The mission of the NIH is to support science in pursuit of knowledge about the biology and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. As part of this mission, applications submitted to the NIH for grants or cooperative agreements to support biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.
Overall Impact. Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following five core review criteria, and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).
Core Review Criteria. Reviewers will consider each of the five review criteria below in the determination of scientific and technical merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.
Significance. Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?
Investigator(s). Are the PD/PIs, collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project?
Innovation. Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?
Approach. Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? If the project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed? If the project involves clinical research, are the plans for 1) protection of human subjects from research risks, and 2) inclusion of minorities and members of both sexes/genders, as well as the inclusion of children, justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed?
Environment. Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements?
Additional Review Criteria. As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider the following additional items in the determination of scientific and technical merit, but will not give separate scores for these items.
Protections for Human Subjects. For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data and safety monitoring for clinical trials.
For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials.
Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children. When the proposed project involves clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children.
Vertebrate Animals. The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains, ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia.
Resubmission Applications. When reviewing a Resubmission application (formerly called an amended application), the committee will evaluate the application as now presented, taking into consideration the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group and changes made to the project.
Biohazards. Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.
Additional Review Considerations. As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will address each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items and should not consider them in providing an overall impact score.
Budget and Period Support. Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.
Select Agent Research. Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).
Applications from Foreign Organizations. Reviewers will assess whether the project presents special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions that exist in other countries and either are not readily available in the United States or augment existing U.S. resources.
Resource Sharing Plans. Reviewers will comment on whether the following Resource Sharing Plans, or the rationale for not sharing the following types of resources, are reasonable: 1) Data Sharing Plan (http://grants.nih/gov/grants/policy/data_sharing/data_sharing_guidance.htm); 2) Sharing Model Organisms (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-04-042.html); and 3) Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-07-088.html).
3.
Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
Not Applicable.
Section VI. Award Administration Information
1.
Award Notices
After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able
to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the NIH eRA Commons.
If the application
is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time"
information from the applicant. For details, applicants may refer to the NIH
Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards,
Subpart A: General.
A
formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to
the applicant organization. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is
the authorizing document. Once all administrative and programmatic issues have
been resolved, the NoA will be generated via email notification from the
awarding component to the grantee business official.
Selection
of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any
costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These
costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award
costs. See Section IV.5., Funding Restrictions.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
All
NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy
Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH
Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards,
Subpart A: General and Part
II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions
for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities.
Awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Continuation Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590) annually and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
A final progress report, invention statement, and Financial Status Report are required when an award is relinquished when a recipient changes institutions or when an award is terminated.
We encourage your inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries may fall into three areas: scientific/research (program), peer review, and financial or grants management issues:
1. Scientific/Research Contact:
Richard T. Sawyer, Ph.D.
Division of Allergy,
Immunology and Transplantation
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases
Room 3103, MSC 6601
6610 Rockledge
Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-6601
Telephone: (301) 402-8179
Fax: (301) 402-0175
Email: [email protected]
2. Peer Review Contact:
Sujata Vijh, Ph.D.
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Room 3118, MSC-7616
6700B Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-7616
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service; non-USPS
service)
Telephone: (301) 594-0985
Fax: 301-480-2408
Email: [email protected]
3. Financial/Grants Management Contact:
Lisa Scott-Morring, MS, CRA
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Room 2232, MSC-7614
6700 B Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD
20892-7614
Telephone: (301)
451-3697
Fax: (301) 493-0597
Email: [email protected]
Section VIII. Other Information
Required Federal Citations
Use of Animals in Research:
Recipients
of PHS support for activities involving live, vertebrate animals must comply
with PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/PHSPolicyLabAnimals.pdf)
as mandated by the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/hrea1985.htm),
and the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations (http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm)
as applicable.
Human Subjects Protection:
Federal
regulations (45 CFR 46) require that applications and proposals involving human
subjects must be evaluated with reference to the risks to the subjects, the
adequacy of protection against these risks, the potential benefits of the
research to the subjects and others, and the importance of the knowledge gained
or to be gained (http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm).
Policy for Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS):
NIH
is interested in advancing genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify
common genetic factors that influence health and disease through a centralized
GWAS data repository. For the purposes of this policy, a genome-wide
association study is defined as any study of genetic variation across the
entire human genome that is designed to identify genetic associations with
observable traits (such as blood pressure or weight), or the presence or
absence of a disease or condition. All applications, regardless of the amount
requested, proposing a genome-wide association study are expected to provide a
plan for submission of GWAS data to the NIH-designated GWAS data repository, or
provide an appropriate explanation why submission to the repository is not
possible. Data repository management (submission and access) is governed by the
Policy for Sharing of Data Obtained in NIH Supported or Conducted Genome-Wide
Association Studies, NIH Guide NOT-OD-07-088.
For additional information, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/gwas/
Sharing of Model
Organisms:
NIH
is committed to support efforts that encourage sharing of important research
resources including the sharing of model organisms for biomedical research (see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/model_organism/index.htm).
At the same time the NIH recognizes the rights of grantees and contractors to
elect and retain title to subject inventions developed with Federal funding
pursuant to the Bayh-Dole Act (see the NIH
Grants Policy Statement. Beginning October 1, 2004, all investigators
submitting an NIH application or contract proposal are expected to include in
the application/proposal a description of a specific plan for sharing and
distributing unique model organism research resources generated using NIH
funding or state why such sharing is restricted or not possible. This will
permit other researchers to benefit from the resources developed with public
funding. The inclusion of a model organism sharing plan is not subject to a
cost threshold in any year and is expected to be included in all applications
where the development of model organisms is anticipated.
Access
to Research Data through the Freedom of Information Act:
The
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been revised to
provide access to research data through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
under some circumstances. Data that are: (1) first produced in a project that
is supported in whole or in part with Federal funds; and (2) cited publicly and
officially by a Federal agency in support of an action that has the force and
effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be accessed through FOIA. It is
important for applicants to understand the basic scope of this amendment. NIH
has provided guidance at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm.
Applicants may wish to place data collected under this funding opportunity in a
public archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the
distribution for an indefinite period of time. If so, the application should
include a description of the archiving plan in the study design and include
information about this in the budget justification section of the application.
In addition, applicants should think about how to structure informed consent
statements and other human subjects procedures given the potential for wider
use of data collected under this award.
Inclusion of Women
And Minorities in Clinical Research:
It is
the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups and their
sub-populations must be included in all NIH-supported clinical research
projects unless a clear and compelling justification is provided indicating
that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the subjects or
the purpose of the research. This policy results from the NIH Revitalization
Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law 103-43). All investigators proposing
clinical research should read the "NIH Guidelines for Inclusion of Women
and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-001.html);
a complete copy of the updated Guidelines is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm.
The amended policy incorporates: the use of an NIH definition of clinical
research; updated racial and ethnic categories in compliance with the new OMB
standards; clarification of language governing NIH-defined Phase III clinical
trials consistent with the SF424 (R&R) application; and updated roles and
responsibilities of NIH staff and the extramural community. The policy
continues to require for all NIH-defined Phase III clinical trials that: a) all
applications or proposals and/or protocols must provide a description of plans
to conduct analyses, as appropriate, to address differences by sex/gender
and/or racial/ethnic groups, including subgroups if applicable; and b) investigators
must report annual accrual and progress in conducting analyses, as appropriate,
by sex/gender and/or racial/ethnic group differences.
Inclusion of
Children as Participants in Clinical Research:
The
NIH maintains a policy that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21)
must be included in all clinical research, conducted or supported by the NIH,
unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. All
investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the "NIH
Policy and Guidelines" on the inclusion of children as participants in
research involving human subjects (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm).
Required Education
on the Protection of Human Subject Participants:
NIH
policy requires education on the protection of human subject participants for
all investigators submitting NIH applications for research involving human
subjects and individuals designated as key personnel. The policy is available
at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-00-039.html.
Human Embryonic Stem
Cells (hESC):
Criteria
for Federal funding of research on hESCs can be found at http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-02-005.html.
Only research using hESC lines that are registered in the NIH Human Embryonic
Stem Cell Registry will be eligible for Federal funding (http://escr.nih.gov/). It is the responsibility
of the applicant to provide in the project description and elsewhere in the
application as appropriate, the official NIH identifier(s) for the hESC line(s)
to be used in the proposed research.
NIH Public Access Policy Requirement:
In accordance with the NIH Public Access Policy, investigators
funded by the NIH must submit or have submitted for them to the National
Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central (see http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/), an electronic version of their final, peer-reviewed
manuscripts upon acceptance for publication, to be made publicly available no
later than 12 months after the official date of publication. The
NIH Public Access Policy is available at (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-033.html). For more
information, see the Public Access webpage at http://publicaccess.nih.gov/.
Standards for
Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information:
The
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued final modification to the
"Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health
Information", the "Privacy Rule", on August 14, 2002. The
Privacy Rule is a federal regulation under the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 that governs the protection of individually
identifiable health information, and is administered and enforced by the HHS
Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Decisions
about applicability and implementation of the Privacy Rule reside with the
researcher and his/her institution. The OCR website (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/) provides
information on the Privacy Rule, including a complete Regulation Text and a set
of decision tools on "Am I a covered entity?" Information on the
impact of the HIPAA Privacy Rule on NIH processes involving the review,
funding, and progress monitoring of grants, cooperative agreements, and research
contracts can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-025.html.
URLs in NIH Grant
Applications or Appendices:
All
applications and proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within
specified page limitations. For publications listed in the appendix and/or
Progress report, Internet addresses (URLs) or PubMed Central (PMC) submission
identification numbers must be used for publicly accessible on-line journal
articles. Publicly accessible on-line journal articles or PMC
articles/manuscripts accepted for publication that are directly relevant to the
project may be included only as URLs or PMC submission
identification numbers accompanying the full reference in either the
Bibliography & References Cited section, the Progress Report Publication
List section, or the Biographical Sketch section of the NIH grant application.
A URL or PMC submission identification number citation may be repeated in each
of these sections as appropriate. There is no limit to the number of URLs or
PMC submission identification numbers that can be cited.
Healthy People 2010:
The
Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and
disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led
national activity for setting priority areas. This FOA is related to one or
more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of
"Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
Authority and
Regulations:
This
program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov/ and is not
subject to the intergovernmental review requirements
of Executive Order 12372. Awards are made under the authorization of Sections
301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284)
and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost
principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants
Policy Statement.
The
PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace
and discourage the use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law
103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities
(or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or routine
education, library, day care, health care, or early childhood development
services are provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to
protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.
Loan Repayment Programs:
NIH
encourages applications for educational loan repayment from qualified health
professionals who have made a commitment to pursue a research career involving
clinical, pediatric, contraception, infertility, and health disparities related
areas. The LRP is an important component of NIH's efforts to recruit and retain
the next generation of researchers by providing the means for developing a
research career unfettered by the burden of student loan debt. Note that an NIH
grant is not required for eligibility and concurrent career award and LRP
applications are encouraged. The periods of career award and LRP award may
overlap providing the LRP recipient with the required commitment of time and
effort, as LRP awardees must commit at least 50% of their time (at least 20
hours per week based on a 40 hour week) for two years to the research. For
further information, please see: http://www.lrp.nih.gov/.
Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices
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